Uzeyir Hajibeyov

Full biography Uzeyir Hajibeyov

Uzeyir Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani composer, conductor, and musicologist who lived from 1885 to 1948. He is widely regarded as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and was a prominent figure in the cultural life of Azerbaijan during the Soviet era.

Born into a family of musicians in the city of Shusha, Hajibeyov was exposed to music from an early age and showed a natural talent for singing and playing various musical instruments. He later studied music theory and composition in Baku and became one of the first Azerbaijani composers to merge Western classical music with traditional Azerbaijani melodies and themes.

Hajibeyov's most famous work is the operetta "Arshin Mal Alan" (The Cloth Peddler), which premiered in Baku in 1913. The operetta, which tells the story of a wealthy cloth merchant who falls in love with a poor girl, became an instant success and has since been performed in various languages around the world. The music for "Arshin Mal Alan" is a blend of traditional Azerbaijani folk music and Western operatic styles, and Hajibeyov's innovative approach to composition earned him widespread acclaim.

In addition to his work as a composer, Hajibeyov was also a conductor and musicologist. He founded the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in Baku and served as its first director, and he also wrote extensively on the history and theory of music in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region. His contributions to Azerbaijani culture and music have earned him a place among the country's most revered figures, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of Azerbaijani musicians and composers.